Artwork Description

Title: Confused Eyes of the Youth
Artist: Xinlin Jiang
Date: 2012
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 35.4 x 47.4 in (90 x 120.5 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
Confused Eyes of the Youth is a vivid and emotionally resonant oil painting created by Xinlin Jiang in 2012. The work captures a close-up portrait of a young boy caught in a moment of animated expression, his mouth open in a joyful exclamation, one eye closed, and fingers playfully raised in a peace sign. Autumn leaves swirl around him, adding movement and poetic energy to the composition.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Jiang’s painterly realism is deeply emotive, combining careful attention to facial detail with loose, expressive brushstrokes in the background foliage and sky. The tactile texture of the oil medium amplifies the immediacy of the child’s gesture, while the autumnal palette suggests both warmth and transience. Influences of Social Realism and Chinese New Wave portraiture are evident in the raw, heartfelt humanity of the subject.

3. Historical Context
Completed in 2012, this painting reflects Jiang’s broader thematic interest in rural youth and the emotional landscapes of ordinary life in contemporary China. Set against a backdrop of village rooftops and natural surroundings, the work conveys an innocence that exists at the margins of rapid modernization.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The artwork is in very good condition. The surface is clean and stable, with no evidence of damage, discoloration, or restoration. The canvas and stretcher are structurally sound.

6. Artistic Significance
Confused Eyes of the Youth stands as a compelling example of Xinlin Jiang’s ability to infuse his portraits with emotional truth and cultural depth. The child’s gesture—both playful and ambiguous—invites interpretation, reflecting the uncertainties and exuberance of youth. This is a standout work for collectors interested in contemporary Chinese figurative art or psychologically nuanced portraiture.